Bleigiessen

Author unknown

New Year's Eve in Germany is not accompanied by wild parties, as is the custom in America. For most Germans, it is a family time, and parties are low-key gatherings of friends and relatives. At midnight, a toast is usually made with champagne, or Sekt, and everyone says, "Prosit Neujahr!" Fireworks are often shot off, and people either look out their window or actually go outside to greet the coming of the New Year.

Another popular German custom is Bleigiessen which is a form of divination where by a candle is lit, and small chunks of lead are melted in a spoon held over the candle. Because of the low melting temperature of lead, this process does not take long. The molten lead is then quickly poured from the spoon into a bucket of cold water, where it hardens almost immediately. Each person tries to determine what he or she "sees" in the hardened lead figure, much like an individula would see animals or other objects in the clouds. Often the lead figure is held up to a candle or other light, and the shape of the shadow it casts aids in this important decision. The shape of the lead determines the future of that person for the year to come. Nowadays, Silvesterblei sets can be purchased in most department stores in Germany. These kits come complete with lead figures, a spoon, and a list of possible shapes and their meanings.

This poem accompanied such a list in a Silvesterblei set:

In der Silvester-Nacht

wird das Blei zum Schmelzen gebracht.

Es wird gekippt in Wasser, kalt und klar;

rate, was stellen die Figuren dar?

Schau sie an, so wie sie sind;

rätst die Gestalt du nicht geschwind.

Halt sie hinters Licht,

das Schattenbild dir mehr verspricht.

Kommt es dir nicht in den Sinn,

schau auf dieses Büchlein hin.

Es sagt dir frank und frei,

so allerlei...!

Meaning of figures

Acker (field)  luck and happiness

ähren (grain head)  your wishes will be fulfilled

Adler (eagle)  profit in your job

Amboss (anvil)  be careful with your job

Anker (anchor)  you will receive help from others

Apfel (apple)  your trust will be broken

Auto (car)  promising venture or enterprise

Automat (vending machine)  be careful with spending

Baum (tree)  growth in your capabilities

Becher (mug)  luck and health

Beil (axe)  disappointment in love

Besen (broom)  conflict or small argument

Beutel (bag)  unexpected luck

Biene (bee)  prospect of marriage

Blumen (flowers)  new friendships will develop

Bock (ram)  expect an inheritance

Bombe (bomb)  you will escape danger

Boten mit Brief (messenger with letter)  you will receive important news soon

Brille (glasses)  you will live to be old

Brücke (bridge)  you will form new ties

Brunnen (fountain)  deep love for everyone

Burg (fortress)  you wish for change

Chrysanthemen (Chrysanthemum)  someone needs your help

Degen (sword)  cutting change

Denkmal (monument)  you overestimate yourself

Dolch (dagger)  you will be victorious

Dreieck (triangle)  finances improve

Ei (egg)  your family will grow

Eidechse (lizard)  big annoyance that goes away quickly

Eimer (pail)  satisfaction with relationships

Eisenbahn (train)  departure from a friend

Elefant (elephant)  you have good powers of comprehension

Engel (angel)  good will come to you

Erdwall (earthen dam)  you will be successful only through trouble

Fahne, wehend (waving flag)  your heart and thoughts are in different places

Falke (falcon)  someone is jealous of you

Faust (fist)  you feel that you have been pushed back

Feder (feather)  change in your home

Felsen (cliffs)  much work to come

Fische (fish)  people are talking about you

Flakon (phial, small bottle)  don't let anyone "pull your leg"

Flasche (bottle)  happy times to come

Flugzeug (airplane)  good luck in open competition

Frosch (frog)  you will eventually win much money in a lotterie

Gabel (fork)  quarrels and arguments

Galgen (gallows)  be wary of false friends

Garten (garden)  new love in your path

Gebüsch (bush)  acknowledge the accomplishments of others

Geweih (antlers)  misfortune in love

Gewichte (scales)  success in business

Gitarre (guitar)  secret longings

Glocke (bell)  inheritance coming into view

Gondel (gondola)  an adventure is approaching

Hahn (rooster)  be careful of fire

Haken (hook)  obstacles will come into your path

Hammer (hammer)  you will get your way

Hase (rabbit)  hang onto your luck

Haus (house)  your ventures will go well

Hose (pants)  you will be ridiculed

Hufeisen (horseshoe)  good business

Hut (hat)  good news

Igel (hedgehog)  people are envious of you

Insel (island)  you are lonely

Kahn (boat)  good luck in your intentions, plans

Käfer (beetle)  nice experience in love

Kamel (camel)  new duties

Kanne (jug)  unpleasantness

Kanzel (pulpit)  you like to be right

Kapelle (chapel)  longing for peace and quiet

Karpfen (carp)  unexpected raise in salary

Karussell (merry-go-round)  dumb jokes from acquaintances

Kegel (ninepin)  be careful in business

Kelch (chalice)  your future will be happy

Kirche (church)  you will start a household soon

Klee (clover)  satisfaction and luck

Korb (basket)  lucky in love

Kranz (wreath)  reconciliation in your circle of friends

Krone (crown)  you will use official position

Kuchen (cake)  festivity is coming

Kugel (ball)  don't take your bad mood out on others

Kuh (cow)  cure from sickness

Lanze (lance)  someone wants to fight with you

Leiter (ladder)  advancement in your job

Leiter, zerbrechen (broken ladder)  make decisions faster

Leuchter (candlestick)  you will "see the light" (understand, get an idea)

Leuchtturm (lamppost)  don't give up on your goals

Löffel (spoon)  people are talking about you

Mauerr (wall)  your perseverance will pay off

Mond (moon)  you may expect honor

Nagel (nail)  better times coming

Nest mit Eiern oder Vögeln (nest w/eggs or birds) a happy home will soon be started

Orgel (organ)  you'll play your way through life

Palme (palm tree)  a long-cherished wish will be fulfilled

Pantoffel (slipper)  you will get married soon

Peitsche (whip)  you need a strong hand

Pistole (pistol)  you will cheat in love

Pfeife (pipe)  be careful—danger approaches

Pflug (plow)  you must work harder at your job

Rad (wheel)  big changes coming

Regenschirm (umbrella)  be hopeful, and avoid unpleasantness

Säge (saw)  a separation, which is advantageous, is coming

Säule (pillar)  a wish will remain unfulfilled

Segelboot (sailboat)  good advancement in your job

Sichel (sicle)  don't scorn the little joys of life

Schere (scissors)  important decisions coming

Schaukel (swing)  make up your mind

Schlange (snake)  people are envious of your success

Schlitten (sled)  make your relationships fit yourself

Schluessel (key)  let others keep their secrets

Schornsteinfeger (chimney sweep)  luck in love

Schraubstock (bench vice)  hang on tight to what you have

Schwamm (sponge)  clean your soul

Schwein (pig)  luck in play, games

Schuh (shoe)  you'll have to do a lot of running around soon

Spinne (spider)  your luck hangs on a silken thread

Storch (stork)  you will travel

Stock (stick, staff)  your life will turn around

Tänzerin (dancer)  don't take life so seriously

Tisch (table)  soon you will be invited to a party

Teller (plate)  you'll have opportunity for generosity

Tor (gate)  you'll change your place of residence

Trauring (engagement ring)  you'll be engaged soon *OR*

warning of upcoming escapades

Treppen (steps)  new assignments await you

Trompete (trumpet)  you will soon gain public office

Trichter (funnel)  protect your strength

Tunnel (tunnel)  you will recover from a horrible fright

Turm (tower)  have more courage in your ____ _______

Urne (urn)  don't grieve about the past

Vogel (bird)  good luck coming

Wiege (cradle)  you will take part in a baptism

Zaun (fence)  you have to explain a misunderstanding

Zeppelin (zeppelin)  gleaming advancement opportunities await you

Zylinder (top hat)  serious matters ahead